X Factor singer can't wait to meet Telford fans

But 2011 runner up Marcus Collins - the "scouse sensation" - has spent three years writing his own material and developing his own style and is ready to take off on his first UK tour with his band - which includes a stop in Telford.

Marcus will perform a collection of his own soulful songs and favourite covers for his Shropshire-based fans at the Oakengates Theatre, Limes Road, on Thursday, September 25.

The 23-year-old told the Shropshire Star: "I am a little bit anxious about my first UK tour but it is a good fear, I want to show everyone what me and my band have been working on and I am looking forward to getting out there and showing everyone what we have done. I just love performing, I have really grown and found who I am and I know what I want to be doing, I have learned so much since the X Factor and gained so much more life experience.

"I absolutely cannot wait to see the fans. I have not played in Shropshire before so it will be so nice to see fans a bit further away who I have not seen before and just meet people and get out there and see them in places I have not been through before."

Since coming second in the 2011 ITV show to girl group Little Mix, Marcus has released a top 10 UK single - Seven Nation Army - and a top 10 self-titled album, released in March, 2012. He starred as Seaweed Stubbs in the 2013 UK tour of popular stage musical Hairspray before dedicating his time to writing new material for an upcoming second album and learning 45 songs with his seven piece band, including a set of Motown Classics for his tour, which starts in September.

Marcus said: "I am doing both new tracks and tracks from my first album as well as some of my favourite songs that have inspired me and made me want to be a singer, by artists such as Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan.

"There is going to be a lot for people to enjoy at the shows. We have got a big show planned, there will be 10 of us on stage and we are going to be doing a lot, I am really pushing myself to be the best I can be. The preparation has been mind blowing and I have had to learn 45 songs but we are really getting somewhere and I love doing it.

"I have also been writing new songs and writing with Gary Barlow, which is incredible, he is just a mate to me just like anybody else. People find that hard to believe but he is just a regular guy and I loved working with him. I am working on the second album and I cannot wait to get that out. I want this music to be heard and I want to make people happy with my music."

Marcus did not reveal if he would be doing any surprise duets during the show but said he would have loved to have sung with the late Amy Winehouse.

"I remember seeing her when I was really young," he said. "I loved her music and I would have loved to have sung with her."

The star will be performing at the Oakengates Theatre, Limes Road, Telford, on Thursday, September 25, at 7.30pm. For more information, visit theplacetelford.com or call 01952 382 382.